Information storage card



Sept. 17, 1968 E. A. DAHL., JR

INFORMATION STORAGE CARD Filed June 14 196s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Sept. 17, 1968 E. A. DAHI., JR 3,402,282

INFORMATION STORAGE CARD Filed June 14, 1965 2 sheets-sheet .z

0000000000000 G a O- a l 0o.... 00000 OGUOUOOGC'OUGUOGOUUG 0000000 United States Patent O 3,402,282 INFORMATION STORAGE CARD Ernest A. Dahl, Jr., 729 Greenwood Ave., Wilmette, Ill. 60091 Filed June 14, 1963, Ser. No. 288,048 11 Claims. (Cl. 235-61.12)

In its broad aspect the present invention is concerned with information storage means or control members for use with information retrieving apparatus, and, in a particular aspect, it is directed to an improved control sheet adapted for magnetic sorting and which is provided with reinforcement means to afford long life in repetitive use with apparatus having spined drive means for advancing the control sheet.

One variety of cards and control sheets presently used with business machines is provided with an aligned series of discrete apertures adapted to cooperate with a drive sprocket of the machine to advance longitudinally the information carrying member therethrough. The area of the card or sheet adjacent to the apertures may bear information symbols in the form of holes arranged in precise orientation with respect to each other and also with respect to the line of drive apertures. Most commonly the control members are formed of a paper material having a thickness in the range extending from 0.005 to about 0.007 inch.

In numerous machine programs master cards of the type described are repetitively passed through the drive apparatus thereby to engage the driving sprocket. It has been found that after twenty to about forty-five passes the drive apertures become distorted in that they are elongated from their original shape due to the tearing of the paper stock in the region of the apertures. The machine is then caused to misread the information bits placed on the card for the reason that the relative spacing of the information holes with respect to the drive apertures has been changed from the original orientation.

In view of the condition described above, an important object of the present invention is to provide an improved control member characterized by having a relatively higher tear strength in that region of the member engaged by the machine drive means than in other regions of the member.

Another object is to provide an improved control card or sheet adapted for repetitive machine handling without measurable deleterious effects from engagement with spined drive means of such machine.

Still another object is to provide an improved control member of the type described characterized by a reinforcing element positioned in that area of the member engaged by the machine drive means.

Yet another object is to provide an improved machine card of laminal construction adapted for repetitive use and having an embedded reinforcing layer therein to afford long life to the card.

An accompanying aspect to repetitions use of a master card in machine programs is the time expended in feeding the card into the machine. Most commonly, the individual master card is inserted into an input station of the machine by a machine operator. However, prior to feeding a particular card into the machine, the operator must retrieve the card from a file or stack of similar cards. Further, after programming the card through the machine, the operator must again handle the card to rele it. The card retrieving and reling operation has been found to be an important factor in the overall time of a particular machine program.

Accordingly, in my copending application Ser. No. 179,020, filed Mar. 12, 1962, I described a laminous card of uniform thickness having magnetic means to facilitate visual survey and manual handling of such cards. In my ICC present application it is my design to afford means to facilitate magnetic filing of master control cards or sheets concomitant reinforcing such cards for repetitions use in business machines.

Thus, still another object of the present invention is to provide a laminal control member having a metal reinforcement embedded in such member whereby to reinforce the member and to afford magnetic assistance for filing and refiling.

Yet another object is to provide an improved card having a strip of metal reinforcement, the metal strip being designed to accommodate an unobstructed passage through the strip of the message punching means ernployed to perforate the card material.

Still another object is to provide cards of the foregoing variety which are adapted for vertical and horizontal fanning action in response to magnetic elds disposed adjacent opposite, parallel edges of such cards.

A further object is to provide a control sheet or card of the type described which is economical to manufacture, highly effective in use, and which possesses a long life in repetitious use through a business machine having spined drive apparatus.

Further features of the present invention pertain to the particular arrangements of the elements of the control member whereby the above outlined and additional operating features are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together with further objects and advantages, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of machine control member of the present invention shown in association with a spined drive element of a business machine;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the control member of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, lateral sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3 3 in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a plurality of control members or cards embodying a second form of the present invention and shown disposed in a card file structure having magnetic card-spreading means;

FIG. 5 is a fractured perspective view of the card shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, lateral sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the lines 6 6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of the control member shown in FIGS. 4 through 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the member of FIG. 7 showing the corner portion having a message perforated therein;

FIG. 9 illustrates a third form of the machine control member of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of a corner portion of the control member shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view in the scale of FIG. 9 illustrating one of the metal reinforcing strips included in the third form of the inveniton; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 12 -12 in FIG. 10.

There is shown in FIG. l of the drawings a procession of interconnected control members or tally cards 10 each embodying the present invention. Each card 10 is of a generally rectangular and elongated shape and is united to another similar card 10 along a short mutual edge perforated, as at 12, to facilitate ready detachment of one card 10 from the procession of cards. Contingent upon the complexity of the particular machine program, a single card may suflice a simple program or an interjoined chain of cards 10 of as many as forty-tive to a hundred may be required for a detailed program.

To advance the card 10 or a procession of interconnected cards through an associated business machine (not shown) each card is provided with a longitudinally extending line of apertures 14, the line of apertures 14 being disposed adjacent to one long edge of the card 10. For example, in a card manufactured by the Friden Calculating Machine Co., Inc. of San Leandro, California, the individual holes are 0.0375 inch in diameter and are spaced ten holes to an inch. This card is three inches in width and extends seven inches between the lateral perforated lines 12.

A sprocket wheel 16, having on its periphery a multiplicity of spines 18, is driven by a shaft from the machines power source (not shown) to advance the card through the business machine. It is to be understood that the spines or sprocket pins 18 are complementary in spacing and cross sectional diameter to the apertures 14, and it is intended that such relationship be retained over the entire life of the card 10.

Accordingly, it being recognized that the card 10 is advantageously adaptable for repetitive use in a machine, reinforcing means is interposed between the outer laminae 22, 24 of the card 10. A ller lamina 26 embraced between the outer laminae 22, 24 includes a strip 28 which provides the reinforcement for the card 10 in the region bearing the line of apertures 14, clearly shown in FIG. 2.

Where the laminae 22, 24 are composed of paper stock material having a thickness of generally .002 inch, the tear strength of such paper materials is usually, in view of the thickness, in sufficient to resist the debilitating distortion of the apertures 14 through repetitive engagement with the spines 18. Thus, the strip 28, being of a relatively tough material with respect to the paper material of the laminae 24, 22, possesses a substantially higher tear strength. The material forming the reinforcing strip 28 may be of resinous plastic material such as terephthalate resin, monochlorotriuoroethylene, or tetratluoroethylene or the like materials which enjoy the requisite flexibility and toughness to resist the forces -which may tend to elongate the apertures 14. The thickness of the strip 28, consonant with its tear strength, may be about 0.002 inch 'which may be also the thickness of the paper ller 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the layers constituting the card 10 are bonded together there is formed a laminous structure having a substantially uniform thickness throughout. It has been found that either pressure sensitive or water soluble adhesives function very effectively to bond the laminae to each other and to the tough reinforcing strip 28. It is to be understood that the apertures 14 extend entirely through the card 10 and particularly through the reinforcing strip 28, as clearly shown in FIG. 3.

Referring again to FIGS. l and 2, it is seen that the line of apertures 14 is disposed adjacent to a long edge of the card 10 whereby a substantial area of the card is unobstructed and is adapted to receive various information storing formations. A pattern of holes 30, which contains information written in machine lang-nage, is arranged in this area, the usual manner for machine reading such a pattern being effected by electro-mechanical means. The relationship of the message holes in the pattern 30, each to the other, is precisely determined whereby when the card 10 is read by the machine a predetermined result will follow therefrom. It is also to be understood that the relative location of the message holes 30 with respect to the apertures 14 is of significant moment in that Should the apertures 14 elongate the machine will misread the information contained in the pattern of message holes 30.

Adjacent to the transverse perforated line 12 an aperture 32 is provided in the card 10 to function as an indexing means for the drive mechanism (not shown).

As shown clearly in FIG. 1 the line of perforations 12 intersects the reinforcing element 28 and it is to be understood that such perforations 12 extend through the element 28 as well as through the paper portions of the card l0. Thus, where the reinforcing element 28 possesses a substantial tear strength the perforations 12 afford means for severing a card 10 from an interconnected adjacent card.

Although the reinforcing member 28 may extend liush with the edge of the card 10 it has been found more economical to limit the width of the strip 28 and to provide between the edge thereof and the edge of the card 10 a narrow paper strip 34 of the same thickness of the element 28 and filler element 26. This is shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3.

ln FIG. 4 of the drawings there is shown a card le, generally designated 40, which is equipped with permanent magnet means for spreading the control members or tally cards 44, of` a second form of the invention. The principle of this arrangement consists in that by means of the two permanent magnets 42, one disposed on either side of the le 40, there are formed magnetic fields in which the lines of force extend substantially in a plane normal to the longitudinal direction of the cards 44 stacked within the le 40. The lines of force act on the end portions of an elongated, magnetically susceptible, reinforcing element 46 disposed within the card 44, such element 46 being formed of a thin, soft iron sheet placed within the card laminae 47, 48, and 49.

Due to the mutual magnetic repulsion of the elements 46 in adjacent cards 44, a fan-like spreading of the cards 44 will occur within a V-shaped opening which may be produced, for example, with the hand in any desired place within the stack of cards 44 disposed in the file 40.

Should it be desired the card le 40 may be constructed in accordance with the teachings of the patent to Ernest A. Dahl, Ser. No. 2,954,032 issued Sept. 27, 1960.

The cards 44 which are adapted to cooperate with the magnets 42 are of similar construction and arrangement to the card 10 but differ in that the reinforcing strip 46 provided therein is preferably formed of soft iron. In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 it is seen that the strip of metallic material 46 is embedded in the central lamina 48 of the card 44 and extends across the card 44 thereby to present at each end of the card 44 a magnetically attractable portion.

The provision of the magnetic reinforcing elements having properties of low magnetic remanence greatly facilitates the sorting of the cards 44 within the file 40 thereby to afford rapid ling and retrieval of such cards by the operator of the machine. Thus the feed time occasioned by selecting a card 44 and placing it in the machine may be materially reduced. Further, such a metal reinforcing element 46 prevents elongation of the apertures 14 in the card 44 in the manner described above.

When the machine control `members or cards of the type described herein are furnished by the manufacturer to the user, such cards most generally are blank except for the line of drive apertures 14 and the index opening 32. lt is for the user to place the message holes 30 into the `card 44 and such message holes 30 are frequently positioned in the area of the card reinforced by the metallic strip 46. In the case of the metal reinforced card 44, to avoid an accumulation of metal chips `within the card perforating machine as the cards 44 are passed therethrough to have messages printed thereon, the metal reinforcing strip 46 is perforated with message holes 30 prior to aixing the strip 46 into the laminae 47, 48, 49. The pre-punched holes 30 in the strip 46 are precisely positioned with respect to the drive apertures 14 whereby when a message hole 30 is punched through the overlying paper laminae 47, 49 in the region of the reinforcing strip 46 such a punch will freely pass through the openings provided in the metal strip 46.

In FIG. 7 the arrangement of the centrally arranged,

pre-punched metal strip 46 is clearly shown wherein the outer larninae 47, 49 overlay the openings in the reinforcing strip 46. In conjunction with this arrangement it is to be noted that the reinforcing strip 46 extends to the edge of the narrower end of the card thereby presenting a mass of magnetically attractable metal cooperable with associated magnetic fields to facilitate fanning of a group of such cards when arranged in a filing cabinet for horizontal filing. The term horizontal filing is used herein to describe that orientation of the cards 44 when the longer dimension thereof is disposed horizontally across the filing drawer 40, as shown in FIG. 4.

In FIGS. 9"-12 a third form of the invention is illustrated, this being a card 90 adapted for filing in the vertical as well as in the horizontal position. The term vertical position is being used descriptively herein for that position of the card wherein the longer dimension thereof is arranged to extend vertically in an associated filing drawer (not shown). The card 90 is of laminar construction similar to that of the cards 44 and 10 but differing in that a longitudinally extending metal reinforcing strip 92 therein is provided with a laterally extending portion 94 at each end of the strip 92. The function of the lateral extension 94 is to present the metal, preferably soft iron, in a sufficient mass at the edge section of the card proximate to the associated magnetic field when the card 90 i-s in a card file. Although it is foreseen that the reinforcing strip 92 may extend to the long edge of the card 90 throughout its length, it is deemed more economical to cut out a lateral portion thereof as at 96 (as in FIG. 11) andv also in the interest of the weight of the card 90.

It being understood that the card 90 is adapted for vertical filing, it is requisite that a second mass of metal, substantially equal to the mas-s of the strip 92, be positioned on the card 90 opposite from the reinforcing strip 92 to produce a balancing of magnetic forces at each long edge of the card 90. For this reason a uniform width metal strip 98 is embedded in the central lamina of the card 90 along the other long edge thereof opposite from the strip 92. The material of the strip 98 may be soft iron or other magnetically susceptible metals having virtually no magnetic remanence. Being that message arrays of holes 30 are not ordinarily placed in that area of the card encompassed by the strip 98, it is unnecessary to prepunch the strip 98 in the manner that the strip 92 is prepared. The strip 98 also serves to provide reinforce- -ment along the edge of the card 90.

As shown in FIG. 9, it is customary that the card 90 be connected in a procession of similar cards folded in accordion fashion and to this end the metal strips 92, 98 as well as the fibrous material of the card 90 are perforated to effect such folding action.

In FIG. 12 is shown the pre-punched arrangement of the reinforcing strip 92 wherein the outer lamina of the card 90 overlies several of the pre-punched message holes 30 in this metal strip.

In the latter two embodiments of the invention, those being designated 44 and 90, it is to be recognized that an appreciable area of the respective reinforcing strips 46 and 92 is foraminated. In point of fact, When subtracting the summation of the individual areas of the message holes 30 and drive holes 14 from the area within outline of the strips 46, 92 there may remain but 20% to 30% in area of metal. This metal area has been found to provide a sufficient mass of magnetically susceptible material to effect the desired fanning action in a group of cards.

The strip 98 of the card 90 is so dimensioned laterally as to provide adjacent each short edge of the card an equivalent mass of metal to that in the enlargement 94 of the foraminated strip 92. This feature is important to insure a balanced farming action at each long edge of the card 90 when filed in the vertical position.

Although each of the three embodiments of the invention shown and described herein includes a control member having two outer laminae encompassing a central filler lamina containing the reinforcing means, the position of the rein-forcement may be in an outer lamina should it so be desired. Thus a two-layer control member is quite feasible wherein the reinforcing strip is embedded in one layer to extend flush with the outer surface thereof.

While there has been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An information storage card comprising: a first outer layer of paper material having a substantially constant thickness; a second outer layer of paper material having a substantially constant thickness, said first and second outer layers extending in a substantially parallel spaced apart relationship to define opposite sides of the information storage card; a center layer positioned intermediate said first and second outer layers and connected to said first and second outer layers, said center layer including a relatively large filler section formed of a paper material and an elongated reinforcing section formed of a material which is relatively tough compared to said first and second outer layers and said filler section, said filler section and said reinforcing section having substantially the same thickness to form a center layer of substantially uniform thickness; and a line of aperture means extending through said first and second outer layers and said reinforcing section for cooperation with sprocket drive means for moving the information storage card, said reinforcing section precluding elongation of said aperture means due to repetitive engagement with the sprocket drive means.

2. An information storage card as set forth in claim 1 further including: an array of aperture means in said reinforcing section in addition to said line of aperture means, a first plurality of the aperture means of said array of aperture means being substantially aligned with aperture means in said first and second outer layers to record data, a second plurality of the aperture means of said array of aperture means being blocked by both said first and second outer layers in blank areas of the information storage card where data recording apertures are omitted.

3. An information storage card as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said reinforcing section is formed of a magnetizable metal.

4. An information storage card comprising: a first outer layer of paper material having a substantially constant thickness; a second outer layer of paper material having a substantially constant thickness, said first and second outer layers extending in a substantially parallel spaced apart relationship to define opposite sides of the information storage card; a center layer positioned intermediate said first and second outer layers and connected to said first and second outer layers, said center layer including a first relatively large filler section formed of a paper material, an elongated reinforcing section formed of a material which is relatively tough compared to said first and second outer layers and said first filler section, and a second relatively small elongated iiller section formed of paper and located between a longitudinally extending edge of said reinforcing section and an outer edge of the record storage card, said first and second filler section and said reinforcing section having substantially the same thickness to lform a center layer of substantially uniform thickness; and a line of aperture means extending through said first and second outer layers and said reinforcing section for cooperation with sprocket drive means for moving the information storage card, said reinforcing section precluding elongation of said aperture means due to repetitive engagement with the sprocket drive means.

5. The combination of: a container having a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel side walls; a first magnet means mounted on a first side wall of said container; a second magnet means mounted on a second side wall of said container; and a plurality of information record cards positioned in said container intermediate said first and second magnet means, said information record cards including a first outer layer of paper material, a second outer layer of paper material, an intermediate layer including a relatively large filler section interconnecting said first and second outer layers of material and formed of a paper material, and an elongated reinforcing section formed of a magnetizable metal which is relatively tough compared to said first and second outer layers, said filler section and said reinforcing section having substantially the same thickness to provide an intermediate layer of substantially uniform thickness, said reinforcing section including a line of aperture means which extends through said first and second outer layers and said reinforcing section for cooperation with sprocket drive means for moving the information record card, said relatively tough reinforcing section precluding elongation of said aperture means due to repetitive engagement with the sprocket drive means, said first and second magnet means emanating magnetic fields which magnetize the reinforcing sections of said information record cards to cause said cards to be separated by magnetic repulsion between magnetic fields induced in said reinforcing section by said first and second magnet means.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said plurality of information record cards are interconnected and folded in a generally accordion configuration at joints which extend transversely to said first and second magnet means.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said plurality of information record cards are interconnected and folded in a generally accordion configuration at joints which extend transversely to said first and second magnet means, and said reinforcing sections include a relatively wide portion adjacent to the interconnected folded joints of the record cards to insure an even magnetic repulsion and separation between the record cards.

8. The combination as set fohth in claim 5 wherein: a plurality of hole means are formed in said reinforcing section, a first portion of said plurality of hole means being blocked by said first and second outer layers, a second portion of said plurality of hole means being in substantial alignment with data recording hole means in said first and second outer layers to record information on said record cards at said reinforcing sections.

9. An information storage card comprising: a first outer layer of paper material having a substantially constant thickness; a second outer layer of paper material having a substantially constant thickness, said first and second outer layers standing in a substantially parallel spaced apart relationship to define opposite sides of the information storage card; an intermediate layer positioned between and connected to said first and second Outer layers, said intermediate layer including a filler section formed of a paper material and an elongated reinforcing section formed of a magnetizable material for cooperation with magnet means in a file container, said filler section and said reinforcing section having substantially the same thickness to provide an intermediate layer of substantially uniform thickness, and a plurality of aperture means extending through said reinforcing section having substantially the same thickness to provide an intermediate layer of substantially uniform thickness; and a plurality of aperture means extending through said reinforcing section, a first portion of said aperture means being blocked by said first and second outer layers, a second portion of said aperture means being in substantial alignment with information recording hole means in said first and second outer layers.

l0. An information storage card as set forth in claim 9 wherein: the aperature means formed in said reinforcing section and the hole means formed in said first and second outer layers are of substantially the same size and shape.

11. For repetitive use with information retrieving apparatus having spined drive means, an information storage card adapted to assume a fan-like relation with respect to other like cards in response to magnetic fields disposed adjacent opposite edges thereof, said card comprising: outer layers of paper material intimately bonded to an intervening layer to form a laminous structure, said laminous structure having a plurality of apertures therethrough disposed in a line extending across said card and adapted to cooperate with the spined driving means of such apparatus, said intervening layer including a sheet of paper material and a strip of thin, magnetically susceptible metal possessing substantially no magnetic remanence and extending between opposite edge of said card along said line of apertures, said strip of metal being of substantially the same thickness as said sheet of paper material and reinforcing said card adjacent said apertures to preclude elongation thereof from repetitive engagement with such spined drive means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,007,883 7/1935 Spahn 23S-61.12 2,098,359 ll/l937 Reynolds 23S-61.12 3,858,073 10/1958 Taube 23S-61.12 3,193,665 7/1965 Bonnar 23S-61.12

MAYNARD R. WILBUR, Primary Examiner.

W. J. KOPACZ, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT 0F COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE washington, D c. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE CORRECTION Patent No. 3,402,282 September 17, 1968 Ernest A. Dahl, Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: Column 2, line 63, "invenlton" should read invention Column 7, line 28, "section" should read sections line 43, "fohth" should read forth Column 8, lines ll to 14, cancel "having substantially the same thickness to provide an intermediate layer of substantially uniform thickness; and a plurality of aperture means extending through said reinforcing section"; line 2l, "aperature" should read aperture line 50, "3,858,073" should read 2,858,073

Signed and sealed this 24th day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M.F1ewher,1r. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN INFORMATION STORAGE CARD COMPRISING: A FIRST OUTER LAYER OF PAPER MATERIAL HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT THICKNESS; A SECOND OUTER LAYER OF PAPER MATERIAL HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT THICKNESS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTER LAYERS EXTENDING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP TO DEFINE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE INFORMATION STORAGE CARD; A CENTER LAYER POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTER LAYERS, SAID CENTER LAYER TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTER LAYERS, SAID CENTER LAYER INCLUDING A RELATIVELY LARGE FILLER SECTION FORMED OF A PAPER MATERIAL AND AN ELONGATED REINFORCING SECTION FORMED OF A MATERIAL WHICH IS RELATIVELY TOUGH COMPARED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTER LAYERS AND SAID FILLER SECTION, SAID FILLER SECTION AND SAID REINFORCING SECTION HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME THICKNESS TO FORM A CENTER LAYER OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS; AND A LINE OF APERTURE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTER LAYERS AND SAID REINFORCING SECTION FOR COOPERATION WITH SPROCKET DRIVE MEANS FOR MOVING THE INFORMATION STORAGE CARD, SAID REINFORCING SECTION PRECLUDING ELONGATION OF SAID APERTURE MEANS DUE TO REPETIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPROCKET DRIVE MEANS. 